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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers slightly more affordable premiums than Selective
• Progressive offers more discounts than Selective Insurance
• Selective tends to be a much less expensive option for residents of rural areas

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

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

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or Selective as potential options, but between the two, which carrier will offer you cheaper rates?

As you can see, Progressive is about $4 per month less expensive than Selective when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be more affordable than Selective for each driver. Auto insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on where you live or how old you are (among quite a few other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

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

Progressive or Selective: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Selective only compete against each other in New Jersey, where Selective offers the cheaper average premiums. For New Jersey residents, Selective offers insurance for $184 a month on average. Progressive's average prices come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $206 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance payment than just the state you live in. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any group out there on the road. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high rates, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $5 less a month by choosing Selective over Progressive. It's worth noting that Progressive offers car insurance in 44 different states compared to Selective's one, which can skew the average premiums a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your prices lower significantly by the time you turn 25. Selective offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than a third of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Progressive still has the lowest rates at $142 monthly.

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 prices you'll ever see.

When looking at Progressive and Selective specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? Selective gets the slight edge here, with average rates coming in at around $120 a month compared to Progressive's $131.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly cheaper car insurance premiums than single policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover multiple cars, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Selective is the winner for those who are single, with rates about $3 per month less expensive than Progressive, on average.

Progressive vs. Selective: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get speeding tickets and get into accidents. That means when it comes to insurance men will typically end up paying a little more.

On average, women see prices around 3% a month less with Progressive, and about 5% less with Selective.

When it comes to the lowest premiums for each gender, Progressive offers the most affordable average rates for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $6 per month and women save around $1 with Progressive compared to the average Selective policyholder.

Progressive or Selective: 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 coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

However, most policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers if you cause an accident) 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, Progressive offers the cheapest average premiums for state minimum liability limits, while Selective has the edge for full coverage policies with similar coverage limits. Drivers looking for basic state minimum coverage can save around $15 with Progressive, while full coverage comes out to be about $10 more affordable with Selective Insurance.

Is Progressive or Selective Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

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

Tickets and at-fault accidents will most likely raise your premiums, but is Progressive or Selective cheaper for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Progressive policyholders can expect their rates to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Selective usually raises prices around $76 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Selective tends to offer the best premiums at about 5% more affordable, while Progressive has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by $65, while those who have insurance through Selective will see around a $20 increase.

Overall, Selective offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $162 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 an accident. On average, Selective will climb your premiums about 35% after a DUI, while Progressive's average prices climb by over 15%.

Progressive has the overall most affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI on their records at $177 per month, but it's worth noting that Progressive's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Selective, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Selective Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can come into play when companies determine your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (for example, Michigan and California are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect quite a few drivers out there.

The reasoning auto 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 prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Progressive. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 25% compared to Selective, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $23 or 13% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-stellar 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 $2 less with Progressive than Selective, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $52 a month with Selective.

Is Progressive or Selective 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 how much insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more miles you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Progressive or Selective report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Still, Progressive comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their vehicle annually, with average rates of $180 per month for both.

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

Where you live can have a large impact on your monthly auto insurance cost. Generally, drivers who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural policyholders because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these carriers side-by-side, Progressive boasts the cheapest average premiums in urban and suburban areas, while Selective wins in rural areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $139 monthly with Selective compared to Progressive's $154. People in suburban areas pay around $179 with Progressive compared to Selective's $204 per month. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average rates are about $207 a month compared to Selective's $210.

Progressive vs. Selective Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new car insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you qualify for or to nail down the carrier 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 Progressive and Selective so that you can see which one offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive knocks Selective out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Selective's 13.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Selective does not.

On the flip side, Selective has a couple unique discounts of its own -- discounts for getting driver training and occasional operator discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Selective Best for You?

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your auto insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, is Progressive or Selective the best company for you, your vehicle, and your wallet?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want basic car insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Selective might be best for you if...

• You're looking for the best rates in NJ.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Progressive and Selective. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision about your auto 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 several companies, not just Progressive and Selective. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Selective FAQs

Is Progressive or Selective cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $180 per month compared to $184 for Selective. That being said, Progressive won't necessarily be the lowest company for every driver, since there are a range of different variables (things like age, gender, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Selective?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither carrier is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Progressive and Selective offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when calculating the prices they charge drivers. Variables like where you park your vehicle, where you call home, age, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Progressive and Selective use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier 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 does all the hard work for you. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Progressive or Selective 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.