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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Umialik offers significantly less expensive rates than Progressive
• Progressive may help you save more money -- they offer more discounts than Umialik Insurance Company
• Umialik tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers who have below-average credit

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

So, you're thinking about switching to a new insurance policy. After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering huge savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Progressive or Umialik as your top options, but between the two, which carrier has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at the national average rates for both carriers, Umialik has average rates that are around 40% a month less expensive than those from Progressive.

That being said, Umialik may not be the cheapest or best option for every single driver out there. Insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to determine prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a wide array of other factors), you could see wildly different rates from the ones above.

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

Progressive vs. Umialik: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Umialik only compete against each other in Alaska, where Umialik offers the cheaper average prices. Umialik drivers tend to pay about $61 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Progressive for their car insurance.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance premiums 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 normally because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 50% less a month by choosing Umialik over Progressive. It's worth noting that Progressive offers auto insurance in 44 different states compared to Umialik's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both carriers will lower rates by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Progressive policyholders decrease nearly 70% and Umialik's prices drop almost 50% over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Progressive and Umialik? Umialik gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $56 more affordable than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but auto insurance rates tend to be cheaper for married policyholders than they are for those who are single. That's because policies for married drivers usually cover more than one vehicle, which many companies will give you a discount for.

For single drivers, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with Umialik rates coming in at about half of Progressive's. The advantage for married couples with Umialik is also obvious, where drivers save around $35 per month.

Progressive or Umialik: Average Rates by Gender

Because women are less likely to get into collisions and get tickets, they have a decreased chance of filing a claim with insurance. So, insurance companies will tend to charge women less than men.

On average, women see prices about $5 a month less expensive with Progressive, and around $10 with Umialik.

Looking at the data for each company specifically, Umialik offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 39% less for men and 42% cheaper for women.

Progressive vs. Umialik: 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 isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides bodily injury and property damage coverage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, Umialik has the significant edge, with average monthly prices coming in at $66. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Umialik again has the edge, with policies averaging about $150 per month to Progressive's $250.

Is Progressive or Umialik Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance carriers offering great premiums 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 speeding tickets and at-fault collisions lead to higher rates, but which carrier -- Progressive or Umialik -- has the lowest prices for drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders with Umialik auto insurance policies don't report seeing their premiums increase after getting a ticket, but Progressive policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 15%.

But Umialik has cheaper prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $41 and $72 more affordable, respectively, compared to Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by $65, while those who have insurance through Umialik will see about a $0 increase.

At the end of the day, drivers who use Umialik end up with the cheaper prices after an accident, with average rates coming in at $108 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 speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Progressive increases average premiums by nearly $30 a month -- that's more than a 15% increase.

Umialik has the overall cheapest prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $108 monthly, but it's worth noting that Progressive's average rates come from 44 states compared to just one for Umialik, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Umialik Rates?

Did you know many insurance companies take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (for example, are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it does affect lots of policyholders out there.

Car insurance carriers argue that someone with good credit is more likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them less risky to insure. Because of that, drivers with good credit will often be rewarded with less expensive premiums.

Looking specifically at Umialik and Progressive, which company has the most affordable prices for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, Umialik will typically reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Umialik comes in over 41.18 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save around 39% with Umialik compared to average premiums from Progressive.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Umialik typically offers lower rates than Progressive when it comes to drivers with less-than-stellar credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 39% per month less with Umialik compared to Progressive, and those with "poor" scores generally save an average of around 41% a month.

Is Progressive or Umialik 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 your monthly prices. Normally, those who drive fewer miles will end up with cheaper rates since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Progressive or Umialik report increasing premiums for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. That being said, Umialik comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car yearly, with average prices of $108 a month for both.

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

Where you live can play a big role in how much you pay for insurance. Typically, policyholders who live in heavily-populated urban areas will pay quite a bit more than rural drivers since there are a lot more vehicles on the roads where they live.

Umialik tends to offer the most affordable premiums for drivers in all areas, regardless of if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $80 per month with Umialik compared to Progressive's $154. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay a monthly price of around $109 with Umialik compared to $179 with Progressive. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Umialik's average prices are about $135 per month compared to Progressive's $207.

Progressive vs. Umialik Discounts

No matter 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 you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be challenging to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Progressive and Umialik 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 Umialik away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Umialik's seven.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like anti-theft discounts, distant student discounts, and discounts for being a good student. Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

Umialik's discounts come through just a few categories, including ABS, Anti-Theft, Defensive Driver, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Umialik Best for You?

So, we've broken down the average rates for many of the factors insurance companies look at, and we've shown you all the discounts each company offers. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Progressive or Umialik the best carrier for you and your specific profile and needs?

Umialik might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.
• You have above-average credit.
• You drive fewer than 12,000 miles annually.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You already have plans to move to another state -- Umialik Insurance Company only offers policies in Alaska.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.

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

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your auto insurance policy is to compare quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Progressive and Umialik. 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 insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Umialik FAQs

Is Progressive or Umialik cheaper?

Umialik is the more affordable of the two carriers when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $108 a month with Umialik and $180 for Progressive. However, that doesn't mean Umialik will be the lowest carrier for every driver, since there are many different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Umialik?

Sadly, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is "better" for everyone -- it all depends on what your unique auto insurance profile looks like.

Why do Progressive and Umialik offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different factors when calculating the rates they charge. Variables like age, gender, where you call home, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Progressive and Umialik calculate prices differently, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different carriers.

How do I know if Progressive or Umialik 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 ZIP code 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 carrier for you isn't Progressive or Umialik 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.