When it comes to comparison, some things are easier than others. With car insurance rates, it’s easy to look at two numbers and tell which one is bigger. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to compare the companies that generate those numbers.

Car insurance companies are large businesses that are trying to provide the best coverage for you at the best price for them.  In order to truly compare the rates from each company, it helps to understand the companies themselves. Let’s talk about The General and Progressive.

Why Compare The General and Progressive?

Progressive is one of the largest insurance companies in the country, while The General is significantly smaller.  Each company has its own business model and strategy for handling your claims, and there are pros and cons of both.  Just because Progressive has a bigger advertising presence doesn’t mean it’s automatically the right company for you – you might actually save money by insuring with smaller companies.

About Progressive Auto Insurance

Progressive Insurance is one of the largest insurance companies in the country.  It employs approximately 30,000 people and has issued over ten million policies.  And with over 30,000 independent agents, you’re never very far away from a friendly face to talk to about insurance.  They are a publicly traded company, and in 2012 made $15 billion in revenue.  Progressive will insure your car, motorcycle, boat, RV, and commercial vehicle, and will also provide home insurance through other companies.  They have expanded out of the US market, and currently operate in Australia as well. Learn more about Progressive Insurance.

When it came to high-risk drivers, insurance companies were hesitant to offer them coverage. Progressive was one of the first companies to give accident-prone people a chance to have affordable insurance, too.

What do Progressive Customers Say?

Because Progressive is publicly traded, they have to pay attention to the desires of their shareholders when making decisions about the company.  Despite the potential to ignore their policyholders in favor of the shareholders, Progressive has a loyal customer base.  Overall, their customers give Progressive an 87.90% satisfaction rating, with 84% planning to renew their policy and 68% saying they would recommend Progressive to a friend.

Progressive Auto Insurance Discounts

Perhaps the most well-known discount Progressive offers is their Snapshot discount.  A small device tracks driving habits and allows users to get discounts for safe driving – but your premium won’t go up just because you used it. Snapshot is ideal for drivers who don’t drive during peak times, in busy locations, or very often.

Other discounts:

• Multiple policies. If you “bundle” your home and auto through Progressive, you can get a discount on both.
• Multi-car discount for insuring several vehicles with Progressive.
• Discounts are available for purchasing a policy online.

About The General Auto Insurance

Founded in 1963, The General has over fifty years of providing car insurance.  The General was one of the first auto insurance companies to specialize in high-risk drivers.  This was a market that was not being properly served, and The General sought to fill this void.  They offer low down payments and flexible payment plans, and they’ll help you file your SR-22 if you need to.  The General understands that being a driver with a squeaky-clean record isn’t always easy (after all, who doesn’t have a few speeding tickets on their record?) and that insurance isn’t something you can afford not to have. Traditionally, high-risk drivers have had to pay through the nose for auto insurance, since, companies reason, they’ll be more likely to file claims (costing the insurance companies money). To offset this cost, high-risk drivers typically paid far more than other drivers with better records. Learn more about The General Auto Insurance.

The high-risk driver comes in many varieties.  If you’ve had your license suspended or revoked, have a history of accidents or other moving violations, or are older than 70 or younger than 20, other insurance companies may classify you as a high-risk driver.  Although this designation is fairly arbitrary, more people now than ever before are being classified as high-risk.  Other companies are beginning to recognize this and branch into this type of driver, but The General was one of the first to offer policies to high-risk drivers, and they understand the nuances of that market.

The General was originally a subsidiary of PCG Holdings Group, but was acquired by American Family Insurance in 2012.  Since they are not a publicly traded company, they do not have to deal with the wants of their shareholders; they can focus on providing the best insurance to you.

Benefits of choosing The General Auto Insurance

• Once you decide to purchase your car insurance from The General, you can buy online immediately and print out your insurance card on the spot.
• Payments can be made online, 24-7.
• If you pay in full for 6 or 12 months of coverage, you are eligible for a discount on your premium.

Unlike many of the bigger auto insurers, The General doesn’t offer assorted discounts for different types of customer.  Instead, they offer insurance to a demographic that might have trouble getting it.  Their approach to the insurance industry means they may not be right for you.  There are many benefits to purchasing from a smaller, less well-known company like The General – personalized service, specialized coverage, for example – but there are some downsides as well.  Read more about why you might (or might not) want to choose a smaller auto insurer.

Before you buy car insurance, you should compare multiple rates.  A big company like Progressive might not offer the best rate, even with all of their discounts; a smaller company like The General might be too expensive if you have a clean driving record.  Compare auto insurance rates and get the best deal for you.