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

Quick Facts

• In general, Western National offers cheaper prices than Progressive
• Progressive offers more affordable average rates for residents of rural areas
• Western National offers more affordable prices for drivers who have an at-fault accident on their record

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

Are you in the market for a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering huge discounts, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Progressive or Western National as potential options, but which one will offer you less expensive rates?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Western National has average rates that are about 14% per month more affordable than those from Progressive.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Western National will be the less expensive option for every single driver. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Progressive or Western National is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Progressive or Western National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Progressive and Western National only compete against each other in three states, with Progressive offering cheaper rates to the average driver in all of them. If you live in South Dakota, Western National is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at the overall average premiums. Progressive is the more affordable option in Iowa and Wisconsin.

There's a lot more that goes into your insurance payment than just your home state. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Young drivers -- especially teens -- normally pay a lot for auto insurance compared to older drivers. That's usually because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

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 Western National save nearly $150 a month compared to those who use Progressive.

However, both carriers will lower premiums by the time drivers turn 25. Western National offers the steepest decrease, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, Progressive still has the most affordable rates at $142 monthly.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll generally enjoy the cheapest car insurance premiums you'll ever see. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between Progressive and Western National? Western National gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older $22 cheaper than the national average for Progressive.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that insurance rates are typically more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders? That's because policies for married couples usually cover more than one car, which several companies will offer you a discount for.

When it comes to relationship status, Western National is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $46 per month more affordable than Progressive, on average. But for married drivers, that advantage is much less clear - Progressive has the edge when it comes to average prices , but the difference is less than $5.

Progressive vs. Western National: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but car insurance is normally cheaper for women than it is for men. This is because men are more likely to get into collisions and get tickets, which raises the chances of an insurance claim.

Men typically pay about 3% more a month than women with Progressive, and around 9% more with Western National.

Looking at overall affordability, Western National offers the lowest average premiums for both men and women, with average rates 12% less for men and 17% cheaper for women.

Progressive or Western 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, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits 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 (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and their passengers if you cause an accident) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- in addition to what you get with liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Western National generally offers significantly less expensive prices of $60 compared to Progressive's $111. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Western National again has the edge, with policies about $2 per month cheaper than Progressive, on average.

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

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their auto 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 Western National less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Western National 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%.

If you have a clean record, Progressive tends to offer the best prices at about 3% cheaper, while Western National has the edge for drivers with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Progressive policyholders who get in a collision can expect to see their rates rise by over 30%, while those who have insurance through Western National will see around a 0% increase.

Overall, Western National offers the most affordable premiums for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with monthly rates averaging $154 compared to Progressive's $214.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or speeding ticket when it comes to your car insurance bill. On average, Progressive will climb your premiums about 16% after a DUI, while Western National's average prices climb by 0%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable premiums, Western National tends to be the much more affordable option with average prices of $154 per month compared to $177 from Progressive.

How does Credit Score Impact Progressive and Western National Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when calculating rates? This isn't always the case (Massachusetts, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for a lot of drivers.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper prices, while those with poor credit will normally be forced to pay more.

Looking specifically at Western National and Progressive, which carrier has the cheapest premiums for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Western National. Policyholders with "excellent" credit can save just under 50% compared to Progressive, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- around $43 or 27% less expensive each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have bad credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best rates. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $27 less with Western National than Progressive, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving around $31 a month with Progressive.

Is Progressive or Western National 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, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

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 premiums for Western National, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $4 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Western National is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for car insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a substantial impact as well. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas due to the number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Looking at these companies side-by-side, Western National tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in urban and suburban areas, while Progressive wins in rural areas.

If you live in a rural area, you can expect to save around $4 with Progressive compared to Western National. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $52 less with Western National compared to Progressive. In urban areas, Western National Insurance Company's average prices are around $30 less than Progressive.

Progressive vs. Western National 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. That's where insurance discounts comes into play.

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.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Progressive and Western National so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Progressive knocks Western National out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 34 different discounts to Western National's 12.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a defensive driver, distant student discounts, and multi-policy discounts -- but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature discounts, and more that Western National does not.

On the flip side, Western National has a couple unique discounts of its own -- corporate discounts, discounts for getting driver training, employee discounts, and more.

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

You've seen the effect certain factors have on your car insurance and the different discounts companies offer. But, when it comes down to it, which company is the right company for you and your specific needs?

Western National might be best for you if....

• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• You want to save money on your insurance after an accident.
• You have a short commute.

Progressive might be best for you if...

• You don't have any speeding tickets, DUIs, or at-fault collisions on your record.
• You want to save extra money with discounts.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's car insurance policy.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Progressive and Western National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto 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 insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Progressive and Western National. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Progressive vs. Western National FAQs

Is Progressive or Western National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Western National is the more affordable of the two carriers, offering average rates of $154 per month compared to $180 for Progressive. That being said, Western National won't necessarily be the cheapest carrier for every policyholder, since there are lots of different variables (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Progressive or Western National?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". One company is not necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, Western National offers less expensive prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Progressive is more affordable for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Progressive and Western National offer me different rates?

Insurance companies take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Things such as your driving record, where you live, gender, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Progressive and Western National use different formulas, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Progressive or Western National 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.