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

Quick Facts

• In general, Progressive offers significantly less expensive premiums than State Auto
• Progressive has more affordable prices for policyholders who live in the suburbs
• Progressive tends to be a much cheaper option for people who are single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself

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

Are you considering a new insurance policy? You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering huge discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or State Auto as potential options, but which one has more affordable premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, State Auto is quite a bit more expensive than Progressive, with rates averaging $259 per month compared to just $180 with Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be less expensive than State Auto for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like where you live, how old you are, how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, and all sorts of other factors, so rates will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Progressive or State Auto is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each company broken down by a bunch of different rate factors.

Progressive or State Auto: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and State Auto compete against each other in nine states, with Progressive offering cheaper premiums to the average driver in all of them. Maryland has the most noticable difference, where Progressive rates are over 70% less expensive than car insurance premiums at State Auto.

But there's more to calculating insurance prices than just where you live. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive car insurance rates of any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's because young, inexperienced 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. As you can see above, teens who use Progressive save nearly $300 a month compared to those who use State Auto.

That being said, both carriers will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. State Auto offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than a quarter of what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Progressive still has the most affordable prices at $142 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Progressive and State Auto? Progressive gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $36 more affordable than the national average for State Auto.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married drivers tend to get slightly less expensive insurance prices than single drivers. That's because policies for married policyholders typically cover more than one car, which many companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $106 per month more affordable than State Auto, on average. For married couples, the advantage is clear again - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average prices.

Progressive vs. State Auto: Average Rates by Gender

Men generally pay more for car insurance than women. This is because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of an insurance claim.

Normally, women see premiums around 3% a month less with Progressive, and almost 10% less with State Auto when compared to their male counterparts.

Looking at overall affordability, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $69 per month and men save about $88 with Progressive compared to the average State Auto policyholder.

Progressive or State Auto: 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.

Auto insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. There are so many different coverages and terms that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy.

But most policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Progressive normally offers significantly cheaper prices of $111 compared to State Auto's $149. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies around $100 a month more affordable than State Auto, on average.

Is Progressive or State Auto Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

At-fault accidents and tickets will most likely raise your rates, but is Progressive or State Auto cheaper for drivers with spotty records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Progressive policyholders can expect their premiums to go up an average of $31 per month if they get a ticket, while State Auto typically raises prices about $48 a month, on average.

However, Progressive tends to offer the best prices for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering premiums that are 12% and 17% less expensive, respectively, compared to State Auto Insurance.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates climb by $65, while those who have insurance through State Auto will see around a $100 increase.

Overall, Progressive offers the cheapest prices for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $214 compared to State Auto Insurance's $269.

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. On average, State Auto will increase your premiums about 55% after a DUI, while Progressive's average rates rise by over 15%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Progressive tends to be the much cheaper option with average prices of $177 per month compared to $380 from State Auto.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and State Auto Rates?

Did you know that many car insurance carriers take your credit score into account when calculating premiums? This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect a lot of policyholders out there.

Insurance companies argue that those with poor credit scores are less likely to pay their bills on time each month, which increases the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with good credit.

Looking at Progressive and State Auto specifically, which carrier has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

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. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 30% compared to State Auto, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $71 or 31% less expensive every month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Progressive typically offers lower prices than State Auto when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $81 per month less with Progressive compared to State Auto, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around $106 a month.

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a pretty big impact on your monthly car insurance payment? Generally, those who drive less will end up with more affordable rates since there's less of a chance of getting into an accident and causing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Progressive or State Auto report increasing prices 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 annually, with average premiums of $180 a month for both.

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

Where you live can play a large role in how much you pay for auto insurance. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than drivers in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

Progressive tends to offer the most affordable prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Progressive offers rates about $207 per month compared to State Auto's $317. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay around $179 per month for Progressive and $236 for State Auto. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest prices from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $154 and $225 for Progressive and State Auto respectively.

Progressive vs. State Auto 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 auto insurance discounts as you can.

The hard part is finding all of the discounts you qualify for, since it can feel sometimes like every company has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Progressive and State Auto offer their customers so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive blows State Auto away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to State Auto's 18.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, COVID-19 relief discount, discounts for being a defensive driver, and discounts for being a good student. Progressive also offers advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, continuous insurance discounts, and more that State Auto does not.

On the flip side, State Auto has a couple unique discounts of its own -- advantage program discounts, discounts for getting driver training, employee discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or State Auto Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average prices for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers. But, when it comes down to it, which insurance company is the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have a clean driving record, free of collisions, tickets, or DUIs.
• You want basic auto insurance coverage at the state minimum limits.
• You are over 65 years old and want to save some money on your car insurance.

State Auto might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Progressive and State Auto and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Progressive and State Auto. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. State Auto FAQs

Is Progressive or State Auto cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Progressive is the less expensive of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 a month compared to $259 for State Auto. But Progressive won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for each policyholder, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your auto insurance bill.

Who is better, Progressive or State Auto?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique car insurance profile.

Why do Progressive and State Auto offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at several different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as gender, where you park your car, your driving record, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Progressive and State Auto calculate premiums using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different carriers.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the cheapest rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Progressive or State Auto 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.