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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for insurance, Progressive offers more affordable premiums than Shelter
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record
• Shelter has more affordable prices for policyholders who haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering large discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or Shelter for your next policy, but which carrier will offer you cheaper premiums?

Looking at nationwide averages, Progressive is about $28 per month less expensive than Shelter.

However, Progressive may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use all sorts of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how old you are or how good your credit score is (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average premiums from both Progressive and Shelter by a range of different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Progressive or Shelter: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Shelter compete against each other in seven states, with Progressive offering more affordable rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Oklahoma, Shelter is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at the overall average prices. Progressive is the cheaper option in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Nebraska.

But there's more to auto insurance than just your home state. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how car insurance companies determine your rates. Continue reading to see how other factors will affect your rates.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. It's usually 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.

But that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their auto insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of $7 less a month by choosing Shelter over Progressive.

Even so, with both carriers, you'll see your premiums lower significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average prices for Progressive policyholders reduce nearly 70% and Shelter's premiums drop more than 55% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Progressive gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $131 a month compared to Shelter's $141.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married couples. This usually boils down to married drivers having more than one car on their policy -- something a lot of auto insurance companies will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, the two carriers are comparable for single drivers, with premiums only differing about $23 per month, on average. But for married policyholders, the advantage is clear - Progressive offers the most affordable average rates.

Progressive vs. Shelter: Average Rates by Gender

Women normally to pay less for car insurance than men. This is because men are more likely to get tickets and get into collisions, which increases the chances of an insurance claim.

With Progressive, men generally pay around 3% more a month than women., and about 11% more with Shelter.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Progressive offers the lowest average prices for both men and women, with average premiums 17% less for men and 9% cheaper for women.

Progressive or Shelter: 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. There are so many different terms and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Progressive usually offers more affordable rates of $111 compared to Shelter's $129. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies around $40 per month cheaper than Shelter, on average.

Is Progressive or Shelter Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great prices 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 tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Progressive or Shelter -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Progressive policyholders can expect their prices to go up an average of $31 a month if they get a ticket, while Shelter normally raises premiums about $39 per month, on average.

If you have a clean record, Shelter tends to offer the best rates at around 5% less expensive, while Progressive has the edge for drivers with a speeding ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Shelter will see about a 40% increase.

Overall, drivers who use Progressive end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly rates averaging $214 compared to Shelter Insurance's $234.

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 car insurance bill. For example, Shelter increases average premiums by just under $150 a month -- that's just under a 50% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Progressive tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $177 monthly compared to $277 from Shelter.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Shelter Rates?

Did you know that many insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating prices? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it does affect several policyholders out there.

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with Progressive. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 15% compared to Shelter, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $30 or 16% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Progressive typically offers lower rates than Shelter when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $40 per month less with Progressive compared to Shelter, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $14 per month.

Is Progressive or Shelter 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 auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle each year, the more likely you are to get into a collision and cause an insurance claim.

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 prices for Shelter, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles every year paying about $11 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, Progressive is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you live can play a pretty big role in how much you pay for insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas because there are a lot fewer cars on the roads in those areas.

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

In urban areas, Progressive's average premiums are around 12% less than Shelter Insurance. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about 4% less with Progressive compared to Shelter. If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around 24% with Progressive compared to Shelter.

Progressive vs. Shelter 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 table below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Progressive and Shelter offer their customers so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive knocks Shelter out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 24 more discounts than Shelter.

Both carriers offer a lot of the same discounts -- like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good student, and paid in full discounts -- but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Shelter does not.

On the flip side, Shelter has a unique discount of its own -- a driver training discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Shelter Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the variables insurance companies look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Progressive or Shelter the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a speeding ticket on your driving record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" car insurance.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Shelter might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault accidents on your record.
• You like the personalized touch of a small, local carrier.
• You're buying auto 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 Progressive and Shelter and that it aids in making a more informed decision about 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 multiple carriers, not just Progressive and Shelter. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Shelter FAQs

Is Progressive or Shelter cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $208 for Shelter. That being said, Progressive won't necessarily be the most affordable company for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Progressive or Shelter?

Sadly, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Progressive and Shelter offer me different rates?

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

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

The only way to find the car insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your ZIP code 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 lowest rate. And who knows, the best company for you might not be Progressive or Shelter 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.