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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Progressive offers significantly less expensive prices than Utica National
• Progressive tends to be a much cheaper option for drivers with a DUI
• Utica National has more affordable premiums in NY

Progressive or Utica National: 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 hefty savings. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Progressive or Utica National, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at nationwide averages, Utica National is quite a bit more expensive than Progressive, with prices averaging $394 a month compared to just $180 with Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't mean Progressive will necessarily be cheaper than Utica National for every single driver. Auto insurance carriers vary their rates depending on things like where you live, how clean your driving record is, how old you are, how good your credit score is, and a ton of other factors. So, at the end of the day, premiums from every company will differ quite a bit from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Progressive or Utica National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

Progressive vs. Utica National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Utica National only compete against each other in New York, where Utica National offers the cheaper average rates. Utica National drivers tend to pay about $99 per month less on average compared to drivers who use Progressive for their car insurance.

There's a lot more that goes into your auto insurance bill than just the state you live in. Keep reading to find out 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 other group of drivers. Typically, that's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

However, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their car insurance. As you can see above, teens who use Progressive save almost 35% a month compared to those who use Utica National. It's worth noting that Progressive offers insurance in 44 different states compared to Utica National's one, which can skew the average prices a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

But both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates by the time you turn 25. Utica National offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Progressive still has the most affordable premiums 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 lowest rates you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best premiums to retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $131 per month compared to Utica National's $312.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that car insurance rates are generally more affordable for married policyholders than they are for single drivers? That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one vehicle, which quite a few carriers will give you a discount for.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two companies is significant, with Progressive premiums coming in at about half of Utica National's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - Progressive offers the cheapest average rates.

Progressive or Utica National: Average Rates by Gender

Men generally pay more for insurance than women. This is because men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which leads to increased risk for insurers and, therefore, higher prices.

Women normally pay around $5 per month less than men with Progressive, but with Utica National, the difference is closer to $30 a month.

Looking at the data for each carrier specifically, Progressive offers the most affordable average premiums for both men and women. On average, women save about $201 per month and men save about $226 with Progressive compared to the average Utica National policyholder.

Progressive vs. Utica National: 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 can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different coverages and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

That being said, the most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and their passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which usually refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Progressive has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $111. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies averaging around $250 a month to Utica National's $592.

Is Progressive or Utica National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

You'll probably end up paying more with speeding tickets and collisions on your record, but which of these two companies offers the cheapest premiums to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Progressive for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 17% after getting a speeding ticket. Utica National policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 16%.

Even so, Progressive has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering premiums that are $155 and $182 cheaper, respectively, compared to Utica National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their rates climb by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Utica National will see about a 15% increase.

At the end of the day, Progressive offers the lowest prices for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average rates coming in at $214 compared to Utica National's $362.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. On average, Utica National will increase your premiums around 45% after a DUI, while Progressive's average prices increase by more than 15%.

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

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Utica National Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take your credit score into account when determining rates? This isn't true for everyone (California, for example, has banned the use of credit score as an insurance factor) but it will come into play for many policyholders.

Car insurance companies 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.

So, which company offers the lowest rates for policyholders with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, Progressive will normally reward you the most. For drivers with "excellent" credit scores, Progressive comes in over 65.48 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores usually save about 60% with Progressive compared to average prices from Utica National.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Progressive typically offers lower premiums than Utica National when it comes to drivers with less-than-perfect credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around 54% per month less with Progressive compared to Utica National, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of about 37% monthly.

Is Progressive or Utica National 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 substantial impact on how much insurance carriers will charge for coverage? That's because the more milage you put on your car, the more likely you are to be in an accident and file an insurance claim.

In this case, neither Progressive or Utica National report increasing prices 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 each year, with average rates of $180 a month for both.

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

Where you call home can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Usually, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers since there are a lot fewer cars on the roads where they live.

Progressive boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to save around 54% with Progressive compared to Utica National. People who live in suburban areas pay about 43% less with Progressive compared to Utica National. For policyholders in urban ZIP codes, Progressive's average prices are around 61% less than Utica National.

Progressive vs. Utica National Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem hard to find all the of the ones you can take advantage of.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and compared all of the different discounts offered by Progressive and Utica National so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

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

Both companies offer several of the same discounts -- like anti-theft discounts, DRL discounts, EFT discounts, and discounts for insuring multiple cars with the same company -- but Progressive also offers discounts for advance quote, advanced safety feature, agency transfer, and more.

On the other hand, Utica National has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like driver training discounts, ESC discounts, greenhouse gas discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Progressive or Utica National Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts carriers offer. But, at the end of the day, which carrier is the right fit for you?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You want to save money on your auto insurance after a collision.
• Your home is in a busy urban area.
• You live in an suburban area.

Utica National might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: New York.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Progressive and Utica National and that you can now make a more informed 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 several companies, not just Progressive and Utica National. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of the top car insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Utica National FAQs

Is Progressive or Utica National cheaper?

Progressive is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at national average rates, with policies averaging $180 per month with Progressive and $394 for Utica National. However, that doesn't mean Progressive will be the cheapest company for every driver, since there are a variety of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Utica National?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". No one carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all depends on what your unique insurance profile looks like.

Why do Progressive and Utica National offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when calculating the prices they charge. Factors such as your driving record, gender, age, where you park your vehicle, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Progressive and Utica National use different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different rates. The best way to determine which company is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers 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 area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Progressive or Utica National 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.