Co-operative vs. Progressive: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Co-operative offers significantly more affordable premiums than Progressive
• Co-operative offers less expensive average rates for single people who will be the only person on the car insurance policy
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Co-operative Insurance Companies

Co-operative or Progressive: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to Co-operative or Progressive for your next policy, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Co-operative has average rates that are around 21% a month cheaper than those from Progressive.

That being said, that doesn't necessarily mean Co-operative will be the more affordable option for every driver. Insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how old you are or how clean your driving record is (among a range of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if Co-operative or Progressive is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Co-operative vs. Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Co-operative and Progressive only compete against each other in Vermont, where Progressive offers the cheaper average premiums. Progressive drivers tend to pay about $8 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Co-operative for their auto insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your car insurance bill than just where you call home. Keep reading to find out 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 group on the road. It's typically because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Co-operative for their car insurance pay over 35% less than those who use Progressive.

Even so, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower prices by the time drivers 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, Co-operative still has the cheapest rates at $133 a month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Co-operative gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older almost 20% less expensive than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive car insurance premiums than married drivers. That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For single policyholders, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Co-operative rates coming in at a quarter less than Progressive's. It's not quite so glaring for married couples, where drivers who use Co-operative save about $10 a month.

Co-operative or Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but men typically pay more for auto insurance than women do. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get pulled over for speeding or get into a collision, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

With Co-operative, women normally pay around 6% per month less than men, and about 3% less with Progressive when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the cheapest premiums for each gender, Co-operative comes out as the lowest option for both genders, with average rates 19% less for men and 22% cheaper for women.

Co-operative vs. 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, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and terms that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Co-operative has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $65. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Co-operative again has the edge, with policies averaging around $222 a month to Progressive's $250.

Is Co-operative or Progressive Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is Co-operative or Progressive cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Co-operative car insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Progressive policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by about $30.

But Co-operative has less expensive rates for drivers in both categories. Drivers with a clean record can save around 30% per month with Co-operative Insurance Companies, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Co-operative drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their prices climb by 25%, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see about a 30% increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Co-operative end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average premiums coming in at $140 compared to Progressive's $214.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single collision or ticket when it comes to your auto insurance bill. Co-operative drivers usually see a 53% climb in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while Progressive will generally raise premiums by around 16%.

How does Credit Score Impact Co-operative and Progressive Rates?

Often times, your credit score can be used as one of the variables to calculate your monthly auto insurance prices. This isn't true for everyone (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it might come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so usually, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable rates.

Looking at Co-operative and Progressive specifically, which one has the most affordable premiums for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Co-operative or Progressive Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

How much you drive can have a considerable impact on your monthly prices. Generally, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Co-operative or Progressive report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Co-operative comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle yearly, with average prices of $143 a month for both.

Co-operative or Progressive: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you call home can play a sizable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, 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.

Co-operative boasts the most affordable average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Co-operative's average rates are about $137 while Progressive offers prices around $207. People in suburban areas pay about $149 with Co-operative compared to Progressive's $179 monthly. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to pay around $145 per month with Co-operative compared to Progressive's $154.

Co-operative vs. Progressive Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can. That's where car insurance discounts comes into play.

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be challenging to find all the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and looked at all of the different discounts Co-operative and Progressive offer their customers so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive blows Co-operative away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Co-operative's 15.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Co-operative has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like driver training discounts, hybrid vehicle discounts, non-smoker discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Co-operative or Progressive Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average premiums for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is Co-operative or Progressive the right fit for you?

Co-operative might be best for you if....

• You've been pulled over for speeding recently.
• You live in an suburban area.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower rates.

Progressive might be best for you if...

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

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Co-operative and Progressive and that you can now make a more informed decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Co-operative and Progressive. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Co-operative vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Co-operative or Progressive cheaper?

Co-operative is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $143 per month with Co-operative and $180 for Progressive. Even so, that doesn't mean Co-operative will be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are lots of different variables that are considered when it comes to your car insurance payment.

Who is better, Co-operative or Progressive?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for every policyholder -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Co-operative is less expensive for drivers with excellent credit, while Progressive offers more affordable prices for drivers with a recent DUI.

Why do Co-operative and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use many different factors when determining the rates they charge. Variables such as where you park your car, where you live, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Co-operative and Progressive calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different companies.

How do I know if Co-operative 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 carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top auto insurance companies for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best carrier for you isn't Co-operative or Progressive at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

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.