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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Progressive offers slightly more affordable premiums than Safeway
• Progressive has less expensive prices for policyholders who live in urban areas
• Safeway has more affordable premiums in AL, AZ, GA, LA, and MS

Progressive or Safeway: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering considerable savings, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed it down to Progressive or Safeway as your top options, but between the two, which company has cheaper rates for insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Safeway is around $14 more a month than Progressive.

But that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be less expensive than Safeway for each driver. Car insurance carriers vary their prices depending on things like how good your credit score is, where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so premiums will vary quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Progressive and Safeway by a variety of different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Progressive vs. Safeway: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Safeway compete against each other in five states, with Safeway offering cheaper prices to the average driver in all of them. Louisiana has the most noticable difference, where Safeway rates are $115 less expensive than insurance premiums at Progressive.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your auto insurance payment than just your home state. Continue reading to learn more about how other variables will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. It's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to cause collisions and other accidents that will result in an insurance claim.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Progressive for their insurance pay 1% less than those who use Safeway.

Even so, both companies will offer you dramatically lower premiums once you turn 25. For example, average rates for Progressive policyholders decrease about $300 and Safeway's prices reduce around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to auto insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest rates out there.

So, which carrier offers the best prices to retired drivers? In this case, Progressive has the slight edge, with premiums about $5 per month less than Safeway. That being said, that difference is less than 5%, which means it ultimately will come down to other factors, like your driving record is or your credit score.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly more affordable car insurance rates than single drivers. That's usually because married policyholders tend to own and insure multiple vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

If you're in the market for auto insurance, Progressive tends to have the lowest average prices regardless of marital status, with prices almost 10% cheaper for married couples and around 6% less expensive for those who are single.

Progressive or Safeway: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but insurance is normally more expensive for men than for women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to get into accidents and get speeding tickets, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher premiums.

With Progressive, women generally pay about 3% a month less than men, but with Safeway, the difference is closer to 9% per month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Progressive offers the cheapest average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $7 a month and men save around $20 with Progressive compared to the average Safeway policyholder.

Progressive vs. Safeway: 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, car insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your car, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause a collision.

However, most policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes collision and comprehensive coverages that protect your own car, in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Progressive has the edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $111. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies averaging about $250 per month to Safeway's $258.

Is Progressive or Safeway Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

It's no secret secret that collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Progressive or Safeway -- has the lowest prices for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Progressive for their insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up around 17% after getting a speeding ticket. Safeway policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of about 4%.

If you have gotten a ticket, Safeway tends to offer the best rates at around 6% more affordable, while Progressive has the edge for drivers with a clean record.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their premiums increase by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Safeway will see about a 25% increase.

At the end of the day, the cheaper prices come from Progressive, with average rates coming in at $214 compared to Safeway Insurance's $223.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly car insurance bill -- normally a lot more than an accident or speeding ticket. Safeway drivers usually see a 26% raise in their auto insurance premiums after a DUI charge, while Progressive will generally increase prices by around 16%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable premiums, Progressive tends to be more affordable for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $177 to Safeway's $220.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Safeway Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a car insurance factor, but it might come into play for many policyholders.

The reasoning car 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 less expensive prices.

So, which carrier offers the best premiums for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, Progressive will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Progressive comes in nearly 29.9 cheaper. Drivers with "good" credit scores normally save around 19% with Progressive compared to average rates from Safeway.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best prices. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 7% less with Progressive than Safeway, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around 21% a month with Safeway.

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Usually, the more milage you put on your vehicle each year, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Progressive or Safeway report increasing rates for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Progressive comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average premiums of $180 per month for both.

Progressive or Safeway: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where your home is can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers due to the number of vehicles that are on the roads where they live.

When comparing these two carriers side-by-side, Progressive typically comes out as the more affordable option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Safeway wins in rural areas.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average prices are about 12% less than Safeway Insurance. People who live in suburban areas pay around 11% less with Progressive compared to Safeway. Those in rural areas can expect to save about 5% with Safeway compared to Progressive.

Progressive vs. Safeway Discounts

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

But where do you even start? With what seems like a million different discounts out there, it may be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for.

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

Progressive blows Safeway away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 more discounts than Safeway.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers discounts for ABS, advance quote, advanced safety feature, and more.

On the other hand, Safeway has a few proprietary discounts of their own like full coverage discounts and punitive damage exclusion discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Safeway Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your insurance premiums. We've broken down the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Progressive or Safeway the best carrier for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You will be the only person on the auto insurance policy.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You are purchasing your car insurance with a spouse.

Safeway might be best for you if...

• You like the personalized touch of a small, regional carrier.
• You've received a ticket for speeding recently and don't want to see your rates rise.
• You live in a rural area.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Progressive and Safeway and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

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

Progressive vs. Safeway FAQs

Is Progressive or Safeway cheaper?

Progressive is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $180 a month with Progressive and $194 for Safeway. But that doesn't mean Progressive will be the cheapest company for everyone, since there are a bunch of different factors that come into play when it comes to your insurance bill.

Who is better, Progressive or Safeway?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". One carrier is not necessarily "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Safeway is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Progressive offers more affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their record.

Why do Progressive and Safeway offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use lots of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Things such as age, where you call home, gender, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Progressive and Safeway calculate premiums using different factors, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Progressive or Safeway 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.