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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for insurance, State Farm offers more affordable premiums than Progressive
• Progressive has less expensive prices for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• State Farm offers more affordable premiums for couples purchasing car insurance together

Progressive vs. State Farm: 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 big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or State Farm as your top options, but which company will offer you cheaper prices?

Looking at nationwide averages, Progressive is about $22 more per month than State Farm.

However, State Farm may not be the lowest or best option for every driver out there. After all, auto insurance companies can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your driving record, where you call home, your credit score, or even your age (among other things), so rates could vary drastically from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average prices from both Progressive and State Farm by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Progressive or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and State Farm compete against each other in 44 states, with State Farm offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in 33 of them. If you live in Arkansas, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, Utah, or a few others, Progressive is the cheaper of the two carriers when looking at the overall average rates, but State Farm is the cheaper option in most of the others.

But there's more to calculating insurance premiums than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of nearly $100 less a month by choosing State Farm over Progressive.

But with both companies, you'll see your prices decrease significantly by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Progressive policyholders drop almost 70% and State Farm's rates lower nearly 60% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

When looking at Progressive and State Farm specifically, which carrier is best for retired drivers? State Farm gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older $20 less expensive than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance prices are typically more expensive for those who are single than they are for married couples? That's usually because married drivers tend to own and insure several cars, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single drivers, with premiums around $38 per month cheaper than Progressive, on average. But for married policyholders, that advantage is much less clear - State Farm offers the lowest average prices , but the difference is less than $5.

Progressive vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Because men are more likely to get speeding tickets and get into accidents, they raise the chances of filing a claim with insurance. Therefore, men tend to pay more for auto insurance than women.

With Progressive, women generally pay about $5 a month less than men, and around $12 less with State Farm.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, State Farm comes out on top for both men and women, with average rates 10% less for men and 15% cheaper for women.

Progressive or State Farm: 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.

Insurance can be a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, State Farm typically offers more affordable premiums of $99 compared to Progressive's $111. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies about $35 per month less expensive than Progressive, on average.

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

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

Accidents and tickets will most likely raise your premiums, but is Progressive or State Farm more affordable 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 State Farm normally raises premiums around $21 per month, on average.

Even so, State Farm is generally the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent speeding ticket and those with clean records, offering prices that are $15 and $25 less expensive, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in a collision can expect to see their rates increase by $65, while those who have insurance through State Farm will see about a $30 increase.

Overall, drivers who use State Farm end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with monthly premiums averaging $163 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. For example, State Farm increases average rates by $45 a month -- that's over a 25% increase.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable prices, Progressive tends to be the much cheaper option with average rates of $177 monthly compared to $179 from State Farm.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and State Farm Rates?

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

Insurance companies argue that those with good credit scores are more likely to pay their bills on time every month, which lowers the risk involved on their end, while the opposite is true for those with bad credit.

Looking at Progressive and State Farm specifically, which carrier has the cheapest prices for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a great credit score, you'll usually find a better deal with State Farm. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save more than 40% compared to Progressive, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $52 or 33% more affordable each month.

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 premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $33 less with State Farm than Progressive, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $53 per month with Progressive.

Is Progressive or State Farm 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 carriers will charge for coverage. Usually, those who drive fewer miles will end up with less expensive rates since there's less of a chance of getting into a collision and causing 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 State Farm, with policyholders who drive 6,000 miles annually paying about $13 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, State Farm is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you call home can have a large impact on your monthly car insurance payment. Typically, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because there are a lot fewer vehicles on the road in those areas, which decreases the chances of an accident.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, State Farm normally comes out as the lowest option for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Drivers in rural ZIP codes see the cheapest prices from both carriers, but State Farm comes out on top with average premiums around $127 per month. State Farm also has less expensive average prices for policyholders in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a 11% and 10% a month respective difference when compared to Progressive drivers in similar areas.

Progressive vs. State Farm Discounts

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

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

Progressive knocks State Farm out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 11 more discounts than State Farm.

Both companies offer many of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, DRL discounts, and discounts for being a homeowner -- but Progressive also offers advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that State Farm does not.

On the flip side, State Farm has a couple unique discounts of its own -- annual mileage discounts, drive safe & save discounts, discounts for getting driver training, and more.

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

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance carriers look at, and walked through the different discounts each company offers, too. But, when it comes down to it, is Progressive or State Farm the best one for you and your specific needs?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You have a DUI charge on your record.
• You care about discounts (Progressive offers the most).

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Progressive and State Farm. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your car insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of companies, not just Progressive and State Farm. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Progressive or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average prices, State Farm is the cheaper of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. However, State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for everyone, since there are a variety of different variables (things like age, driving record, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique auto insurance profile. For example, Progressive offers less expensive premiums for drivers with a recent DUI, while State Farm is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Progressive and State Farm offer me different rates?

Insurance carriers take a look at a lot of different factors when determining the rates they charge policyholders. Things such as your driving record, age, where you live, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Progressive and State Farm calculate premiums differently, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from lots of different companies.

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

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